A Must Listen! PETA VP Exposes the Deadly Truth Behind ‘No-Kill’ Policies

Daphna Nachminovitch, PETA’s Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations, visited with Keep it Humane: The Podcast to break down the deceptive term “no kill.” Tune in to this fantastic episode and learn more about how “no kill” policies result in more suffering and more death, and how Best Friends Animal Society is contributing to animal homelessness.

Breaking Down the Episode: ‘No-Kill’ Deception Explained

Why Would Shelters With ‘No Kill’ Policies Turn Animals Away?

At face value, the phrase “no-kill,” loudly touted by Best Friends Animal Society, sounds appealing: Who doesn’t want to save animals? But “no-kill” policies, like those that Best Friends pushes, don’t save animals. Shelters with “no-kill” policies turn animals away, often refusing to accept sick, elderly, or unsocialized dogs—or any cats at all—because taking them in would impact the facilities’ “save rates.”

While high “save” rates also sound good, they mean nothing when they are achieved by rejecting animals in need. “No-kill” policies include refusing to accept vulnerable animals who have no safe place to turn, all but guaranteeing them slow, painful deaths. Many dogs and cats have been cruelly killed by people who don’t want them, and/or abandoned to breed, suffer, and die on the streets.

“This philosophy, which Best Friends Animal Society has pressured shelters across the nation to embrace, has deprived countless animals—and humans who care about them—desperately in need of help.”

How Do Policies Pushed by Best Friends Animal Society Harm Animals?

Best Friends Animal Society, a Utah-based group whose last reported annual revenue was $173 million, misled the public for years. It promised Americans a “no-kill” nation by 2025, an absurd claim not based on any semblance of reality. An opinion piece by Best Friend’s CEO conceded that its position is that “keeping pets out of shelters should be a first-choice management protocol.” This philosophy, which Best Friends Animal Society is responsible for perpetuating, has doomed countless animals and people who care about them. Best Friends refers to compassionate euthanasia in animal shelters as “killing,” creating animosity toward anyone helping homeless animals, including offering a peaceful release when that is the most compassionate option. Animals left out of shelter statistics may not be counted, but they count.

“Best Friends Animal Society has created a culture of hate and resentment towards individuals who dedicate their lives to helping homeless animals, including by alleviating their suffering, when that is the most humane option.”

To boost “save rates,” Best Friends Animal Society pushes shelters to:

• stop temperament testing and adopt out dogs with aggressive tendencies and even known bite histories.
• refuse to accept animals from residents trying to surrender them (including dogs known to be dangerous).
• leave animals—even kittens—to fend for themselves on the streets.

These policies often result in humans and our fellow animals meeting violent ends. That’s not “saving.”

What Happens When a Shelter Turns Away an Animal in Need?

Shelters that have surrender fees, waiting lists, and other misguided and downright dangerous “no-kill” policies are directly responsible for many instances of cruelty and abandonment. When shelters make it difficult (or impossible) for people to do the right thing and bring in unwanted cats and dogs, they put the animals in grave danger.

Animals turned away from shelters are often abandoned and:

• breed, creating more homeless animals.
• are hit by cars.
• are cruelly killed by humans.
• die from starvation and dehydration.
• succumb to harsh elements.
• suffer and die from diseases.

How Can You Help? Show Support for Open Admission Animal Shelters

Every community must have a safe haven for dogs and cats that accepts all animals in need, no questions asked, and no fees charged. Please urge your local shelter to become (or remain) open-admission.

Thank you to Keep It Humane: The Podcast for facilitating this crucial and informative discussion. We’re grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on how these policies hurt animals every day.